The NUS have today suggested that around 72% of 18-24 year olds voted in the general election, which if true will be an unprecedented increase. Ipsos MORI have confirmed that it can take a week or more to produce a detailed breakdown of voter demographics so we have to wait for the final data, but there certainly is a sense that young people have made their voices heard today!
Labour wins in Leeds North West, Canterbury, Cambridge and Plymouth have been attributed to young people and many student towns or cities have seen a surge in voter numbers right across the UK. Whether Nick Clegg’s demise was influence by the youth vote time will tell.
We know that young people felt particularly passionate about Brexit, passionate enough to get involved with the campaign, register to vote and indeed cast their vote. It should have come as no surprise that this election has seen a further increase in the political engagement of young people.
Jeremy Corbyn’s campaign and presence has inspired thousands of young people. He has been able to reach out to young people more than any other party and for that I applaud him. Our young people should be engaged with and should have their opinions, needs and indeed votes taken seriously.
So what were the factors that drove young people to the polls?
We have heard a lot in the last twelve months how disenfranchised young people felt with the political system. They have felt the burden of austerity and key policy changes – Tuition fees, housing, youth unemployment, constant education reform, funding for mental health and youth services, Brexit and welfare reform to name but a few.
It has often been said that politicians will serve the older population because they vote and can throw away youth inspired policies because they dont. Maybe this message has finally gotten through? We know from The Princes Trust survey of 2016 that young people have no confidence in their futures. Maybe this time they they wanted to influence that future?
What our young people are telling us
One of our Youth Ambassadors has said that she felt the Labour promises of support for the NHS and tuition fees influenced the youth vote. Another Ambassador felt that Jeremy Corbyn was much more relate-able and real.
“Labour was definitely a big contender for young people!” says another Ambassador.
What we need to see now
My hope is that we will now see a government, opposition and MP’s hungry to get to know young people. Ready to listen and to act.
I hope to see a senior MP given the responsibility for young people, to ensure that young people are being fairly represented at the top level of government. We need to keep our young people engaged and find a new way to ensure they are represented across all levels of government and policy making.
We would like to see more MP’s join the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Youth Employment where at each meeting we bring young people into parliament to discuss the barriers they face. MP’s from all parties are invited to join this group and support youth employment in all of its forms.
